Improvement in leaf-turners



J. J. VINCENT & G. B. MOMILLAN.

Leaf-T urner.

Patented M ay21, 1878..

WITNESSES INVEIEIPR: z/zmm ATTORNEYS.

-UTHOGRiPHER WASHINGTON.

UNITED STATES. PATENT OEEIoE JOHN J. VINCENT AND GEORGE B. MCMILLAN, OF POY SIPPI, \VISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN LEAF-TURNERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 203,962, dated May 21, 1878; application filed April 20, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN J. VINCENT and GEORGE B. lVIOMILLAN, of Poy Sippi, in the county of Waushara and State of Wisconsin, have invented anew and Improved Music- Leaf Turner, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of our improved music-leaf turner with part out out; and Fig. 2 is a top View of the same, partly in horizontal section on line 00 00, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to an improved music leaf turner for pianos and organs; and consists of vertical jointed arms that are turned by separate pinion and sliding rack-bar, and connected by spring-clamps at the bottom and top of the sheet of music. Each upright arm is locked at the joint by means of a sliding sleeve of the lower clamp, for being retained in upright position or folded down for closing the piano or organ.

Referring to the drawing, A represents a number of upright arms of our improved musicleaf turner, which arms turn in suitable bearings of the box B, that is screwed in any suitable manner to the piano or organ.

The upright arms A are provided inside of the box with fixed pinions a, that intermesh with the horizontal sliding and guided rackbars I), which are pulled out or pushed back by means of front buttons or stops 01. Each upright arm may be thus turned separately by its pinion-and-rack arrangement in a semicircle or any part thereof, by entirely or partly withdrawing or pushing back the stop.

The upper part of the upright arm A is jointed by a pivot to the lower part at a point above the box B, the parts being locked together in upright position by means of a sliding sleeve, 1), of the lower spring-clamp D, to which the sheet of music is applied.

By raising the lower clamp and sleeve the upper part of the arm is released, and may be folded down either forward or sidewise of the box, as desired, and thereby the entire series of arms carried out of the way for closing the piano or organ.

At the upper part of the upright arms is arranged, by means of a collar and clamp screw, 6, a horizontal adjustable arm, F, of suitable length, that carries at its outer end a spring-clamp, F, to which the upper part of the sheet of music is applied. The upper retaining-clamp may be adjusted to the size of the music-sheets by raising or lowering the said clamp.

When the leaves are all placed into the spring-clamps of the upright arms, they may be readily turn ed by means of the stops, which are either pushed in or drawn out, according as the sheets are to be turned in one or the opposite direction.

The sheets of music may in this manner be turned quickly and noiselessly by the player, making it unnecessary for any one to assistin turning the music.

By drawing the stops half-way, so that the sheets are at right angles to the box, and then raising the lower side, they may be thrown sidewise or forward of the box for closing conveniently the lid of the piano or organ.

The box that incloses the operating mechanism is only used when the leaf-turning device is applied to pianos or organs in use; but when the turner is applied to instruments in course of manufacture, the operating mechanism and stops are arranged directly inside of the cases of the same.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a music-leaf turner, the combination of upright revolving arms, having upper and lower spring-clamps, with pinions and sliding racks, operated by stops of the racks, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the jointed upright arms, having adjustable spring-clamps, with the sliding locking-sleeves of the lower clamps, for admitting the raising or folding of the arms, substantially as specified.

WILLIAM SPENCER SKEEL, TRUMAN SEARS. 

